Columbia SC Grand Tree Ordinance and Permit Guide

"Grand tree" is a term people hear in Columbia when a builder, a buyer or a neighbor wants a big oak or pine gone. It comes from the City of Columbia's Zoning Ordinance, and it matters most on development and redevelopment sites. Many homeowners will find that the rules do not apply to removing a tree from the yard of an existing house. This guide walks through the City's tree protection section using the City's published ordinance text, explains the exemptions, and flags what we could not verify for unincorporated Richland County.

City of Columbia vs. Richland County

Start with jurisdiction, because the rules differ. Inside the city limits, the City of Columbia Zoning Ordinance applies: Sec. 17-5.3 (Landscaping) and Sec. 17-5.4 (Tree Protection), with definitions in Sec. 17-9.4 (City of Columbia, Landscape, Tree Ordinance and Green Building Standards with Definitions; overview at Landscape & Tree Ordinance). Unincorporated Richland County has its own Land Development Code. The County's code of ordinances is published on American Legal Publishing rather than Municode (Richland County Code, American Legal). We were not able to load the County's land development code text, so this page does not state Richland County tree figures. If your address is outside the city limits, confirm requirements with Richland County Community Planning & Development.

What is a grand tree?

Sec. 17-9.4 defines a grand tree as any tree in fair or better condition that equals or exceeds these trunk diameters at breast height (DBH):

• Large hardwoods, such as oak, hickory, tulip poplar and beech: 24 inches DBH.
• Large softwoods, such as pine, deodar cedar and red cedar: 30 inches DBH.
• Small hardwoods, such as dogwood, redbud and American holly: 10 inches DBH.
• Any tree of a rare or unusual species, of exceptional quality, or of historical significance.

The ordinance also recognizes a "grand tree stand," a contiguous grouping the Zoning Administrator determines to be of value based on maturity, species purity, rarity, history or exceptional aesthetic quality.

Which trees are protected, and when you need a permit

Under Sec. 17-5.4(c)(1), a protected tree is any grand tree; any tree identified to meet the minimum site tree density in Sec. 17-5.3(h); any tree used to meet a landscaping standard; and any tree in fair or better condition with a trunk at least 6 inches in diameter at 4.5 feet that sits in a transitional buffer yard, a street protective yard or an interior planting area of a parking lot, or is identified for canopy retention. Sec. 17-5.4(c)(2) requires a Tree Removal Permit before a protected tree is cut, destroyed, removed, relocated or transplanted. Those buffer and street protective yard categories are where frontage and buffer rules come in: on commercial and multi-family sites, mid-size trees along the street or between different land uses can be protected even if they are not grand trees.

Private-lot exemptions

Sec. 17-5.4(b)(2) lists activities exempt from the tree protection standards. For homeowners, the key ones are:

• (b)(2)b: removal or modification of any tree located on an individual lot on which an existing single-family detached or two-family dwelling is located.
• (b)(2)c: routine or seasonal pruning under the landscape maintenance standards.
• (b)(2)d: after documentation of the tree's condition is provided to the Zoning Administrator, removal or pruning of dead or naturally fallen trees, trees damaged by a hurricane, tornado, ice or wind storm, flood, wildfire or other act of nature, or trees the Zoning Administrator finds to be a threat to public health, safety or welfare.
• (b)(2)f: removal or pruning of trees within a utility easement by a utility company.

The single-family exemption covers lots with an existing house. A vacant lot being developed, a teardown site before the new house exists, or a commercial property is a different situation. Trees in the public right-of-way, such as street trees between the sidewalk and the curb, belong to the City; work on them goes through the City's Forestry permit application, not through the private-lot exemption.

Tree protection zones on development sites

Where the ordinance applies, Sec. 17-5.4(c)(5) sets the tree protection zone as the largest of: 1 foot of radius for each inch of DBH; one-half the tree's height; or 6 feet. Inside that zone, development activity is prohibited, soil compaction over more than 10% of the zone is prohibited except for walkways, and utilities may cross only if there is no alternative, boring is at least 25 inches deep, and excavation is done by hand. Before clearing, trenches at least 1.5 inches wide and 12 inches deep must be cut along the limits of disturbance outside the zones so roots are cut, not torn. The City publishes a tree protection fencing detail for these zones.

Removing a grand tree with a permit, and the penalty for removing one without

Sec. 17-5.4(e)(1) lists what the City weighs when reviewing a request to remove a grand tree, including its location, health, condition, longevity and species, any historic or exceptional quality, and proposed planting to compensate. Under Sec. 17-5.4(c)(11)a, a permit that includes grand tree removal requires planting replacement shade trees with an equal or greater number of density factor units, in addition to the site's minimum tree density. Removing a protected tree without a permit is costlier: under (c)(11)b, the replacement must equal at least 1.5 times the density factor units removed, using shade trees with a minimum caliper of 3.5 inches each. Replacement trees go on the same lot, near the former tree protection zone where practical, must be maintained for a 3-year establishment period, and require financial surety at planting.

Sources: Angi, arborist cost; Angi, tree removal cost. Ranges are attributed to the publisher named; they are national or regional estimates compiled by that publisher, not quotes and not prices from any provider on this site. City review fees are set by the City of Columbia.

Local rules and code references

• City of Columbia Zoning Ordinance Sec. 17-5.4 and 17-9.4 (City PDF): protected trees, Tree Removal Permit, exemptions (b)(2)a-j, tree protection zone (c)(5)-(8), replacement (c)(11), grand tree review (e)(1), grand tree definition.
• City of Columbia, Landscape & Tree Ordinance: ordinance overview and resources.
• City of Columbia, Tree protection detail (PDF): protection fencing for tree protection zones.
• City of Columbia, Forestry permit application: work on street trees in the right-of-way.
• Richland County Code of Ordinances (American Legal Publishing): county code for unincorporated areas; land development code figures not verified here.

Code text, policy forms and department procedures change. Confirm current requirements with the jurisdiction, your insurer or the utility before work starts.